178 and counting
There is something suspiciously precise about the calculation that the costs of Brexit outweigh the benefits by 178 times. But we know it is a large figure.
It would be interesting, in a way, to hear the opinions of the Minister for Brexit Opportunities on this calculation. Except he would just repeat the usual line about spurious or non-existent gains and then resort to “it will take 100 years to tell. “
I know the old joke is that economic forecasting was invented to make astrology look respectable, but really? 100 years before we can tell?
We know now and so does he. He has the figures. If he doesn’t I can point him to the ONS, OBR, OECD, IMF, IFS and LSE websites, where the figures have been published checked and analysed many times.
Meanwhile at Malaga airport Brits returning from holiday or their holiday homes after 90 days abroad, find long queues, and are claiming that Irish passengers are getting “preferential treatment” because they sail through the EU citizens channel.
Well, yes they do get treated better, because their government negotiated preferential treatment when it joined the EU. As did the British government, which then negotiated worse treatment when it left.
Maybe that’s one of the 178 Mr Rees-Mogg can’t comment on?
Or at least not for another 100 years.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.